Thanks, Algore!
A disclaimer: I manage the technical aspects of the Washington Times site (www.washingtontimes.com), and I write the occasional theater review for the Times. I am not a spokesman for the newspaper, nor do my views necessarily coincide with the paper’s management.
Some say that any publicity is good publicity. That’s demonstrably untrue (Michael Jackson!), but sometimes badmouthing is good publicity. Former Vice President Al Gore (D-Nowhere), in his latest public persona of the “plain-talking honest politician,” has lashed out at the “vast right wing conspiracy.” Unlike Sen. Clinton (D-N.Y., as of 30 months ago), he names names.
Specifically, he names “Fox News Network, The Washington Times, Rush Limbaugh” as leaders of the cabal. Now, I like this because although our Web traffic might have faded in the last few days of November, we’re almost certain to have a record-breaking month. Thanks, buddy!
The ridiculousness of this idea aside, this lays bare one of the more ominous aspects of Gore’s character. He doesn’t believe his opponents are merely wrong, he thinks that because they hold incorrect ideas, they should be driven out of public life. Say what you want about Bill Clinton (D-Harlem) — Lord knows I have — but he didn’t seem to have this tendency.
Here’s what I got from what Gore said:
1. Conservative ideas have no place in American society.
2. Conservative ideas should not even be discussed.
3. The one-third of the American public that identifies itself as conservative are not part of the “mainstream.”
4. The “objective” viewpoint is liberal, or at least non-conservative.
5. It’s a darn shame that conservative ideas make it into the news, when if the news media were doing their jobs, they’d keep such things out of it. Tsk, tsk, you editors and writers, for letting this dangerous stuff onto the airwaves!
Please, read Gore’s outburst, and tell me if you come to my conclusions. If this were a member of the Bush administration lamenting the flow of ideas from liberal institutions to public life, you’d bet the ACLU would be all over that guy like Bill Clinton on a Big Mac, talking about “chilling effect!” this and “intimidation!” that.
The funniest quotation: “It’s the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism,” says Gore, “and that’s another interview for another time, if you’re interested in it.” In truth, “narcissism and nihilism” is a wonderful epigram to describe another -ism: Clintonism, with which Algore is inextricably entangled. It’s time to find a real job, man. It would be so much better for your soul.